DISCIPLINE

Discipline is an aspect of moral guidance and not a form of punishment. The purpose of discipline is to provide a school climate conducive to learning and one that promotes character development. Discipline is maintained in a classroom or school when students work cooperatively with the principal, the teachers, and their classmates toward the attainment of the class and school objectives. However, it should be noted that the legitimate interest of the school extends beyond the school day and beyond the school hours.

PINK SLIPS
Teachers are not expected to tolerate any form of disrespect of bad behavior. Neither should any class have to tolerate a lesson being interrupted by a disruptive classmate. If a teacher deems it necessary, a student might receive a Disciplinary Referral Form (pink slip) this form will indicate the behavior or infraction; the child will then be referred to the principal or vice principal. There, the student will be counseled, and then the form will be sent home to be signed by the childs parent(s). The form MUST BE SIGNED and returned the next school day. If parents wish, a conference can be arranged, but the form must be returned signed. If a child receives three of these forms, he or she will be automatically suspended from school for a least one day. (There are circumstances that are grounds for immediate Suspension, even if no prior pink slips have been issued, for instance, cheating or harassment.) Before the child can return to school, a conference must take place with the principal and the parent(s). At the conference the child will be placed on probation for the remainder of the school year. Manual labor may be used as a form of discipline. Teachers have the right to send children home when they are not prepared for school academically or behaviorally.

CONDITIONS OF SUSPENSION
Any of the reasons listed for expulsion where mitigating circumstances exist may be adequate cause for suspension of a student: No student shall be suspended from an elementary school for more than two consecutive weeks. Notice of suspension must be given to the parents/guardians by telephone or in a conference. The principal shall schedule a conference with the suspended students parents/guardians to discuss matters pertinent to t he suspension especially the means by which the parents/guardians and the school can cooperatively encourage the student to improve behavior. The suspended student may be present at the conference. In no case will a teacher on his/her own authority suspend a student.

Expulsion
Reason for expulsion are, but are not limited to, the following offenses committed by students: Actions gravely detrimental to the moral and spiritual welfare of other students. Habitual profanity or vulgarity. Assault, battery or any threat of force or violence directed toward any school personnel or student. Bullying or harassing school personnel or other students. Open, persistent defiance of the authority of the teacher. Continued willful disobedience. Use, sale or possession of narcotics, drugs or any other controlled substance. Use, sale, distribution, or possession of any alcoholic beverages on or near school premises. Smoking or having tobacco. Stealing Forging signatures Cheating or plagiarism Willful cutting, defacing or otherwise injuring in any way property, real or personal belonging to the school Habitual truancy Possession of harmful weapons (e.g., knives, guns, etc.) or materials that can be used as weapons.

Membership in, active involvement in, or affiliation with a gang or group responsible for coercive or violent activity. Actions in or out of school which are detrimental to the schools reputation. Violation of the Electronic Communications Policy policies and guidelines. Inappropriate conduct or behavior unbecoming a student in a Catholic school.

Procedure for Expulsion

When the reasons for expulsion are purely disciplinary, i.e., when serious moral reasons are not involved, the following steps must be taken: A conference must be held with the parents/guardian, student, teacher, and principal present to advise the family that serious action is contemplated unless there is immediate improvement in behavior. In parish schools, the pastor should be notified of the conference, given an opportunity to attend and proved a report of the discussion. If there is no improvement in behavior, the final decision will be announced at a second conference attended by the principal, teacher, and parents/guardians. If the parents fail without cause, to attend the conference, the pastor, principal, and teacher will reach a final decision. The final decision rests with the pastor in consultation with the principal. In no case will a teacher on h is/her own authority expel a student. Full credit will be given for all work accomplished by the student up to the moment of expulsion.

Cases Involving Grave Offenses

In cases involving grave offenses, which may include a violation of criminal law or actions so outrageous as to shock the conscience or behavior of the community, the student is immediately suspended and the initial parent-principal conference is dispensed with. The procedure involving cases of grave offenses should be followed when the continued presence of the student at school (even for a short period of time) will, in the reasonable judgment of the principal, pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of another student or students, or faculty m embers. When immediate suspension is imposed, with probably expulsion, while the case is being investigated, the rules and the consequences of the violation should be clearly explained to the student and parents/guardians.

Time of Expulsion
An expulsion may be made immediately if the reasons are urgent. Only in exceptional cases shall expulsion of an eighth grade student who has been in the school one or more years be allowed. If an expulsion is to take place during the last quarter of the school year or during the last semester in the case of an eighth grade student, prior approval of the Department of Catholic Schools is required before the expulsion can take effect. If such action is contemplated, approval shall be obtained before the announcement of the final decision to the parents at the meeting described below.

Reporting of Expulsions
All expulsions even if they occur at the end of the year, are to be reported by telephone to the elementary supervisor at the Department of Catholic Schools within twenty-four hours. The written report, Notice of Dismissal, should be mailed promptly to the elementary supervisor. The attendance office of the local public school district shall be notified immediately of expulsions. A copy of the Cumulative Student Record should be held until requested.

Right to Make Exceptions

The principal, in consultation with the pastor, retains the right to make exceptions in cases where mitigating circumstances call for a different response than policy suggests.

HARASSMENT, BULLYING AND HAZING POLICY

St. Thomas School is committed to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment that respects Christian values and is free from harassment, bullying or hazing in any form. Harassment, bullying or hazing of any student by any other student, lay employee, religious, clergy, or school volunteer is prohibited. The school will treat allegations of any such conduct seriously and will review and investigate such allegations in a prompt, confidential and through manner. This policy shall be communicated clearly to faculty, staff, volunteers, parents/guardians, and students. Substantiated acts of harassment, bullying or hazing by a student will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal of the student. Students found to have filed false or frivolous charges will also be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. For students in grades K-3, this disciplinary action shall depend on the maturity of the students and the circumstances involved. For students in grades 4 through 8, the disciplinary action may include suspension or dismissal. Harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to treatment or a school environment that is hostile or intimidating based upon a legally protected class, such as race, sex, ethnic origin or religion. It includes, but is not limited to, any of all of the following: Verbal harassment: Derogatory comments and jokes; threatening words spoken to another person. Physical harassment: Unwanted physical touching, contact, assault, deliberate impending or blocking movements, or any intimidating interference with normal work or movement. Visual harassment: Derogatory, demeaning or inflammatory posters, cartoons, written words, drawings, and gestures. Sexual harassment: Unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Bullying is the habitual harassing, intimidating, tormenting, browbeating, humiliating, terrorizing, oppressing and/or threatening or another person. Bullying typically consists of direct behaviors, such as teasing, taunting, threatening, hitting, shoving, and stealing that are initiated by one or more students against a victim or victims. In addition to direct attacks, bullying may also be indirect, such as spreading rumors that cause victims to be socially isolated through intentional exclusion. Whether the bullying is direct or indirect, the key component of bullying is physical or psychological intimidation that occurs repeatedly over time to create an ongoing pattern of harassment and abuse. Hazing is any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or student body or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to these organizations which causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm, to any student or other person. Students also may be involved in cyber bullying, which occurs when they bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology. This can include, but is not limited to: Sending inappropriate text, e-mail, or instant messages. Posting inappropriate pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web Sites. Using someone elses user name to spread rumors or lies about someone.

It is the responsibility of the school to: Establish practices and provide staff development training and age-appropriate information for students, designed to create a school environment free from discrimination, intimidation or harassment. Make all faculty, staff, students, parents/guardians, and volunteers aware of this policy and the commitment of the school toward its strict enforcement. Remain watchful for conditions that create or may lead to a hostile offensive school environment.

It is the students responsibility to: Conduct himself or herself in a manner that contributes to a positive school environment. Avoid any activity that may be considered discriminatory, intimidating, harassing, bullying or hazing. If possible, inform the other person(s) that the behavior is offensive and unwelcome. Report all incidents of discrimination, harassment, bullying or hazing to the principal or teacher. As appropriate, the students involved may be asked to complete a formal, written complaint which will be investigated thoroughly and will involve only the necessary parties. Confidentiality will be maintained as much as possible.

STUDENT THREATS

All threats by students to inflict serious harm to self or others, or to destroy property, will be taken seriously. Whoever hears or becomes aware of any threat made by a student should immediately report it to the pastor, principal or a teacher. The principal will notify the police and the Department of Catholic School immediately. The student who has made the threat will be kept in the school office under supervision until the police arrive. The parents/guardians of the student who has made the threat will be notified. Any adult or student who has been identified as the potential victim, or mentioned in writing as a potential victim, will be notified immediately. The student who has made the threat will be suspended until the investigation by the police and school has been completed. The decision to re-admit a student who has made a threat will be made by the principal and pastor on a case-by-case basis. Practical jokes or offhand comments of a threatening nature will be taken seriously and will be investigated. The police may be notified and these actions may result in suspension or removal of a student from school.

SCHOOL SEARCHES
A students legitimate expectation of privacy in their perso n and in the personal effects they bring to school must be balanced against the obligation of the school to maintain discipline and to provide a safe environment for the school community. Accordingly, school officials may conduct a search of the students person and personal effects based on a reasonable suspicion that the search will disclose evidence that the student is violating or has violated the laws or a school rule. School officials do not need a warrant or a parents permission to conduct a search of the student and/or the schools or a students personal property, as long as they have reasonable suspicion that a law or school rule is being or has been violated. Whenever a school principal conducts a search of a students person or personal effects , and adult witness should be present. Students do not own their lockers or other school property. Lockers are made available to the student by the school. The student does have some expectation of privacy in his/her locker from other students. However, a student may not exclude school officials if the school official has a reasonable suspicion that a law or school rule has been violated. A student has a greater expectation of privacy concerning his/her backpack, purse, clothing and other personal effects. A school official who finds it necessary to conduct a search of a students backpack, purse , clothing or personal effects, must have a reasona ble suspicion that the student is violating or has violated a law or school rule. The students parents should be notified of any such search. An alert from trained and certified detector dog is sufficient to allow the school official to have a reasonable suspicion and to conduct a warrantless search of the students locker, car or his/her personal property and ef fects. In addition to this policy on searches by the school, every student is subject to the Archdiocesan and school use and privacy policies concerning cell phones and other electronic devices, whether the devices belong to the school or to the student. If a student refuses to cooperate in a reasonable search of the school or student property (including electronic devices), th e students parents and/or the police may be called to assistance or referral. In the event that any items belonging to a student are confiscated, the principal should document that fact and, when possible, take a photograph of the place where the confiscated object was found and of the object itself. It is also recommended that the school obtain a signature from the student acknowledging that the item was in his or her possession at the time it was found.

Academic/Behavior Probation
Any student with a GPA below 2.0 at the end of a trimester and/or any student receiving two or more Fs within a trimester will be placed on academic probation. Any student who is placed on probation for two trimesters may be asked to leave St. Thomas School. Any student receiving any D/NI or F/P, in behavior, at the end of the trimester will be placed on behavioral probation. A ny student, who receives two trimester grades of D/NI or F/P, in behavior, will be asked to withdraw from St. Thomas School. Academic and Behavioral Probation may, at the discretion of the principal and teacher, be extended into the upcoming school year. Any student who is placed on probation may not participate in any school activities and/or functions. For example: sports, choir, student council, spirit day, etc.

PROBATION

A child may be placed on probation at any time at the discretion of the teacher, principal or pastor. Once a child is placed on probation it is possible that they might not participate in extracurricular activities and field trips. This will be left up to the discretion of the teachers, based on the childs class performance and behavior as we ll as previous record. When a child is placed on probation, he or she agrees to make the necessary changes in behavior, grades, effort and attitude to be a successful student at St. Thomas. The parents and student agree, in writing, to withdraw the child from the school if the terms of probation are not met according to the standards set by the teacher and administration. If the child receives three or more disciplinary referral forms after being placed on probation, it will be cause for withdrawal or dismissal from St. Thomas.